-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An entire nation stopped Sunday . Four million people sat watching on their television , hearts palpitating with every movement . It was time .

Another 40,000 packed into Schladming with just one hope .

Amidst the roars , step forward Marcel Hirscher , the 23-year-old with the weight of all Austria on his shoulders .

For two weeks the Austrian public had watched and waited for Hirscher to deliver that moment of magic , that performance which would go down in folklore .

On Sunday , faced with his last chance of chance of glory , the home favorite delivered , sealing victory in the men 's slalom to spark scenes of wild celebration .

The 23-year-old came home in an aggregate of 1min 51.03 seconds , 0.42 seconds ahead of Germany 's Felix Neureuther , with fellow Austrian and former two-time world champion Mario Matt , claiming bronze at 0.65 seconds .

`` It was very difficult , '' Hirscher told reporters . `` It was fierce . What can I say , it 's great .

`` The atmosphere was sensational , it was great . But I was so focused and just tried not to make a mess . It was anything but easy . ''

Hirscher said the lead up to the slalom had been `` the toughest week in my life so far '' .

`` The whole country was watching me , especially for the slalom . Around four million people were watching on television in Austria and 40,000 are here live in the stadium . If I 'd straddled , oh my god , they 're going to kill me !

`` It 's definitely good to be the world champion here in my home country . ''

With the cowbells greeting his victorious arrival at the finish line , Hirscher soaked up the adulation in front of an adoring crowd .

But while Hirscher was left to reflect on his victory , U.S. star Ted Ligety 's bid to win a fourth gold at the championships was ended following an uncharacteristic error .

Ligety , who had won gold in the Super-G , super-combined and giant slalom , was the first man to achieve such a feat since Claude Killy in 1968 .

But his failure around a gate and the sight of his skis breaking free , ended Ligety 's attempt to make history .

While Ligety failed , Germany 's Neureuther had no such problems , claiming silver .

`` I really tried not to make the same mistakes I 've done in the past in big events , '' he told reporters .

`` I did n't have an ideal run . Marcel did it really great again today . ''

Bronze medalist Matt added : `` I trusted in myself to do it and I could n't do anything but go full out .

`` But you ca n't race senselessly . I 'm very happy with the bronze medal , you have to be happy when you see how tight the field is in slalom . ''

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Marcel Hirscher won the men 's slalom at the World Championships Sunday

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Hirscher is the only Austrian to win individual gold at Schladming over the past fortnight

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Germany 's Felix Neureuther took silver with Austria 's Mario Matt claiming bronze

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U.S. star Ted Ligety fails in his bid to win four gold medals following disappointing run